YELLOW-BILLED PARROT. 269 



YELLOW-BILLED PARROT.* 



Psittacus leucocephalus, 



Psittacus leucocephalus, Linn. — PL Enl. 549. 



Psittaczis collarius, (young ?) Ibid. 



The Yellow-bill is less common than either of 

 the two preceding, but its habits are the same. 

 The same fruits supply it with food, but in ad- 

 dition, it divides the oranges, to procure the pips, 

 and even cuts the acrid cashew-nut, to extract 

 the kernel ; which the others will not do. 



The present and the preceding species build in 

 holes in lofty trees ; often a hollow bread-nut is 

 chosen, and often the capacious and comfortable 

 cavity chiselled out by the Woodpecker. Four 

 eggs are usually laid; and when the green feathers 

 begin to clothe the callow heads of the promising 

 family, they are too often taken by some daring 

 youth, who having watched the parent to her hole, 

 climbs the giddy elevation. He feeds the young 

 with ripe plantain or banana, till they approach 

 maturity, and their appetites can digest plainer 

 food ; for when grown they will eat almost any- 

 thing. 



All the three species learn to speak, but the 

 Parroquet is barely intelligible ; the Black-bill is 



* Length 134 inches, expanse 22f, flexure 7\, tail 4^, rictus 1, tar- 

 sus ^, middle toe 1 ^. Irides dark hazel ; cere and eyelids greyish- 

 white. Sexes exactly alike. 



